Carton corner construction

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to improvements in a carton corner construction which includes upstanding adjacent side and end panels and a locking panel joined by a first fold line to the end panel with the latter including interlocking means cooperative with a corner reinforcing panel to maintain the side and end panels in erected condition, the improvement being the provision of fold line means in the corner reinforcing panel for defining a pair of reinforcing panel portions and a third reinforcing panel portion, the pair of reinforcing panel portions being folded into parallel contiguous relationship to each other adjacent, inboard and in reinforcing relationship to the end panel, and the third reinforcing panel portion being folded adjacent, inboard and in reinforcing relationship to the side panel.

United States Patent 1 McGlynn et a].

[5 1 CARTON CORNER CONSTRUCTION [75] Inventors: Thomas P. McGlynn, ShortHills,

N..l.; Carl H. Yentsch, Philadelphia, Pa.

' [73] Assignee: Continental Can Company, Inc.,

New York, NY.

[22] Filed: Dec. 15, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 315,587

[52] U.S. CI 229/31 FS; 229/34 R [51] Int. Cl B65d 5/24; B65d 5/22 [58]Field of Search 229/34 A, 3] FS, 34 R [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 1,218,353 3/1917 Bachmann 229/34 R 2,572,239 l0/l95lBergstein 229/34 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 936,705 9/1963 UnitedKingdom 229/34 R 51 May 13, 1975 Primary Examiner-William I. PriceAssistant ExaminerDouglas B. Farrow Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Dil|er,Brown, Ramik & Wight [57] ABSTRACT This disclosure relates toimprovements in a carton corner construction which includes upstandingadjacent side and end panels and a locking panel joined by a first foldline to the end panel with the latter including interlocking meanscooperative with a corner reinforcing panel to maintain the side and endpanels in erected condition, the improvement being the provision of foldline means in the corner reinforcing panel for defining a pair ofreinforcing panel portions and a third reinforcing panel portion, thepair of reinforcing panel portions being folded into parallel contiguousrelationship to each other adjacent, inboard and in reinforcingrelationship to the end panel, and the third reinforcing panel portionbeing folded adjacent, inboard and in reinforcing relationship to theside panel.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PMENTED NM 1 36875 SHEEI NF 2 g y NU E L A 6uh PATENBEBMAY w 3:975 3 883 B 067 SHEET 2 BF 2 CARTON CORNERCONSTRUCTION Conventional cartons constructed from corrugated board maybe reinforced, particularly at the corners thereof, to assure long lifewhere conditions so dictate and/or sufficient strength for theparticular use involved. U.S. Pat. No. 3,696,989 in the name ofJohn W.Kochevar issued on Oct. 10, 1972 and assigned to the present assigneediscloses one such typical reinforced 9 corner construction in which anend panel is reinforced by the overfolding of a pair of reinforcingpanels, although in the absence of side panel reinforcement. Likewise,US. Pat. No. 3,547,337 issued to Thaddeux H. Pisarczuk on Dec. 15, 1970and assigned to the present assignee discloses another such reinforcedconstruction in which two panels reinforce each end panel, once again inthe absence of side panel reinforcement.

In accordance with the present invention the novel carton cornerconstruction not only includes end panel reinforcement adjacent eachcorner, but by novel means each side panel adjacent each corner isreinforced and a novel interlocking structure maintains the carton inits desired erected condition.

The reinforced carton construction is achieved by hingedly connecting areinforcing panel to each side wall and providing the reinforcing panelwith two fold lines for folding eachcorner reinforcing panel into a pairof reinforcing panel portions and a third terminal reinforcing panelportion. The pair of reinforcing panel portions are folded about a firstof the fold lines into parallel contiguous relationship inboard and inreinforcing relationship to the associated end panel, whereas the thirdor terminal reinforcing panel portion is folded about the remaining foldline into contiguous inboard and reinforcing relationship to the sidepanel. In this manner the carton can be not only rapidly and readilyerected or set up, but thereafter novel interlocking means maintain thereinforcing panel portions properly disposed to assure that in useabuse, such as may occur during shipment, will not in any way affect theset up condition thereof.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claimed subjectmatter, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a carton blank constructionin accordance with this invention, and illustrates a reinforcing panelbetween adjacent side and end panels with the reinforcing panel beingprovided with a pair of fold lines for folding the reinforcing panelinto desired relationship relative to the associated end and sidepanels.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the partially erected carton, andillustrates the manner in which the reinforcing panel portions arefolded and subsequently interlocked with the associated end panel.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 3--3 of FIG.2, and illustrates the manner in which the side and end panels arereinforced by the associated reinforcing panels.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 3, andillustrates with more specificity the reinforcement at one corner of thecarton and the manner in which the reinforcing panel portions are heldinterlocked in their folded or set-up condition.

A novel carton blank constructed in accordance with this invention isfully illustrated in FIG. 1 and is generally designated by the referencecharacter 10. The blank 10 is preferably constructed of corrugated boardand as such includes an inner ply 11, an outer ply 12, and a flutedintermediate ply 13. The blank 10 may, of course, be constructed fromother materials as might be dictated by eventual intended use anddesired life.

The carton blank 10 includes a generally rectangular bottom panel 14set-off by a pair of longitudinal fold lines 15, 16 and transverse foldlines 17, 18.

A side panel 20 is joined to the bottom panel 14 along the fold line 18and is set-off by the fold line 18, edges 21, 22, and an interruptedscore line 23 having scores 24, 25, 26 and 27. Three bridging portions28, 29 and 30 are joined by fold lines (unnumbered) to the end panel 20as well as to an interlocking panel 31 which is of a generally narrowrectangular configuration and is set-off by the cut lines 24-27, thebridging portions 28-30, edges 32, 33 and a terminal edge 34. Ahand-hold opening 35 is partially closed by a flap 36 which may bedeflected along a fold line 37.

At the opposite side of the bottom panel 14 another end panel 40 isjoined thereto by the fold line 17, and

is defined by the fold line 17, an edge 41, an edge 42,

cut lines 4346 and three bridging portions 47, 48 and 49 joined toanother interlocking panel 50 in turn defined by the cut lines 43-46,the bridging portions 4749, edges 51, 52 and a terminal edge 53. Anotherhand-receiving opening 54 is partially closed by a flap 55 which isdeflectable along a fold line 56.

A side panel 60 is joined to the bottom panel 14 along the fold line 15and is set-off by the fold line 15, spaced parallel fold lines 61, 62and a terminal edge 63. The fold lines 61, 62 are slightly inboard ofthe fold lines 17, 18, respectively.

Another side panel 64 is joined to the bottom panel 14 by the fold line16, and is set-off by the fold line 16, a pair of spaced parallel foldlines 65, 66, and a terminal edge 67. The fold lines 65, 66 are inboardof the respective fold lines 17, 18 and in alignment with the fold lines61, 62.

A reinforcing panel 70 is joined to the side panel 60 along the foldline 62 and is set-off by the fold line 62, an edge 71, an edge 72 andan edge 73 which is stepped inwardly forming two slots 74, 75 with aprojecting portion 76 therebetween. The projecting portion 76 is dividedby a fold line 77 which, in turn, sets off a reinforcing panel portion78 with a portion of the edge 71, the fold line 62, the slot 75, and theportion of the projection 76 to the left of the fold line 77. Anotherreinforcing panel portion 80 of the reinforcing panel 70 is set-off bythe fold line 77, a portion of the edge 71, a fold line 81, the slot 74,and the portion of the projection 76 to the right of the fold line 77. Athird reinforcing panel portion 82 of the reinforcing panel 70 is setoffby the fold line 81, a portion of the edge 73, the edge 72, and an edge83.

Another reinforcing panel is joined to the side panel 64 by the foldline 66 and is defined by the fold line 66, an edge 91, an edge 92, andan edge 93 which includes two slots 94, 95 with a projection orprojecting portion 96 therebetween which is divided by a fold line 97. Areinforcing panel portion 98 of the reinforcing panel 90 is set-off bythe fold line 66, a portion of the 3 edge 91, the fold line 97, the edge93 to the left of the fold line 97, the portion of the projection 96 tothe left of the fold line 97 and the slot 94. Another reinforcing panelportion 100 is set-off by a fold line 101, a portion of the edge 91, thefold line 97, the portion of the projection 96 to the right of the foldline 97, the slot 95 and the portion of theedge 93.

A final reinforcing panel portion 102 is set-off by portions of theedges 91, 93 to the right of the fold line 101, the fold line 101 andthe edge 92.

Another reinforcing panel 120 is joined by the fold line 61 to the sidepanel 60 and is set-off by the fold line 61, an edge 121, an edge 122,an edge 123 having two slots 124, 125 between which is a projection 126divided in half by a fold line 127. A reinforcing panel portion 128 isset-off by the fold line 127, a portion of the edge 121, the fold line61, a portion of the edge 123, the slot 125, and the portion of theprojection 126 to the right of the fold line 127.

Another reinforcing panel portion 130 of the reinforcing panel 120 isset-off by the fold line 127, a portion of the edge 121, a fold line131, a portion of the edge 123, the slot 124, and the portion of theprojection 126 to the left of the fold line 127.

A final reinforcing panel portion 132 is set-off by portions of theedges 121, 123 to the left of the fold line 131, the fold line 131, andthe edge 122.

Another reinforcing panel 140 is joined to the side panel 64 by the foldline 65 and is set-off by the fold line 65, an edge 141, an edge 142, anedge 143 which includes a pair of slots 144, 145 between which is aprojection 146 divided in half by a fold line 147. A reinforcing panelportion 148 of the reinforcing panel 140 is set off by the fold line 65,a portion of the edge 141, the fold line 147, the portion of theprojection 146 to the right of the fold line 147, the slot 145, and aportion of the edge 143.

Another reinforcing panel portion 150 is set-off by the fold line 147, aportion of the edge 141, a fold line 151, a portion of the edge 143 tothe right of the fold line 151, the slot 144 and the portion of theprojection 146 to the left of the fold line 147.

A final reinforcing panel portion 152 of the reinforcing panel 140 isset-off by the fold line 151, portions of the edges 143, 141 to the leftof the fold line 151 and the edge 142.

The blank of FIG. 1 is erected to form a carton (FIGS. 2-4) in themanner best illustrated in FIG. 4. Initially the two side walls 60, 64are folded upwardly about their respective fold lines 15, 16 after whichthe reinforcing panels 120, 140 are folded about the associated foldlines 61, 127, 131 and 65, 147, 151. In so folding the panel 130 liesinboard and against the panel 128 with the panel 132 lying along theside panel 60. The mirror image portions of the projection 127 overlieone another and the slots 124, 125 are in alignment. Likewise similarfolding brings the panels 147, 150 against one another with the panel150 inboard of the side panel 64. Similarly the mirrorimages of theportions of the projection 146 become aligned as do the slots 144, 145.Thereafter the end panel 40 is folded upwardly about the fold line 17after which the locking panel 50 is folded downwardly across thebridging portions 47-49. Upon being so folded the bridging portion 47 isreceived in the slots 124, 125 whereas the bridglocked thereto by thereceipt of the bridging portions 28, 30 in the respective slots 74, and94, 95.

In the set-up condition of the carton 10 each side panel 60, 64 isreinforced at each corner by the reinforcing panel portions 82, 132 and102, 152, respectively. Thus, a double-ply reinforcement is achieved atthese corners whereas a three-ply reinforcement is achieved at each endpanel due to the overfolding of the panel portions 78, 98, 128, and 148,150. Moreover, considering the upper portion of each end panel afour-ply reinforcement is achieved due to the associated inwardly anddownwardly directed locking panels 31, 50.

While preferred forms andarrangements of parts have been shown inillustrating the invention, it is to be clearly understood that variouschanges in detail and arrangement of parts may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

What is claimed is:

1. A carton blank comprising a bottom panel defined by spaced first andsecond parallel fold lines and spaced third and fourth parallel foldlines collectively defining a polygonal area, an end panel connected tosaid bottom panel at each of said third and fourth fold lines, a sidepanel connected to said bottom panel at each of said first and secondfold lines, a corner reinforcing panel between each adjacent side andend panel, each said corner reinforcing panel having fold line means forfolding said corner reinforcing panel portions in parallel contiguousrelationship and a third reinforcing panel portion transverse thereto,said fold line means are a pair of spaced parallel fold lines, said pairof panel portions are of substantially equal areas, a locking panelhaving openings therein joined by a fifth fold line to each end panel,means for directly interlockingly securing each locking panel throughsaid openings to a pair of said reinforcing panel portions adjacent eachend panel, said interlocking means including projecting edge portions ofboth reinforcing panel portions foldable upon each other intosubstantially coextensive shape, size and area, and a sixth fold linegenerally linearly aligned with said fifth fold line at each end panelfor securing each third reinforcing panel portion to the adjacent pairof reinforcing panel portions associated therewith.

2. The carton blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said securing meansinclude slots in said pair of reinforcing panel portions opening awayfrom the most adjacent of said first and second fold lines andprojections therebetween likewise directed.

3. The carton blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said third reinforcingpanel portions and said locking panel of are substantially the samewidth as measured in a direction parallel to said first and second foldlines.

4. The carton blank as defined in claim 2 wherein said third reinforcingpanel portions and said locking panel of are substantially the same withas measured in a direction parallel to said first and second fold lines.

1. A carton blank comprising a bottom panel defined by spaced first andsecond parallel fold lines and spaced third and fourth parallel foldlines collectively defining a polygonal area, an end panel connected tosaid bottom panel at each of said third and fourth fold lines, a sidepanel connected to said bottom panel at each of said first and secondfold lines, a corner reinforcing panel between each adjacent side andend panel, each said corner reinforcing panel having fold line means forfolding said corner reinforcing panel portions in parallel contiguousrelationship and a third reinforcing panel portion transverse thereto,said fold line means are a pair of spaced parallel fold lines, said pairof panel portions are of substantially equal areas, a locking panelhaving openings therein joined by a fifth fold line to each end panel,means for directly interlockingly securing each locking panel throughsaid openings to a pair of said reinforcing panel portions adjacent eachend panel, said interlocking means including projecting edge portions ofboth reinforcing panel portions foldable upon each other intosubstantially co-extensive shape, size and area, and a sixth fold linegenerally linearly aligned with said fifth fold line at each end panelfor securing each third reinforcing panel portion to the adjacent pairof reinforcing panel portions associated therewith.
 2. The carton blankas defined in claim 1 wherein said securing means include slots in saidpair of reinforcing panel portions opening away from the most adjacentof said first and second fold lines and projections therebetweenlikewise directed.
 3. The carton blank as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid third reinforcing panel portions and said locking panel of aresubstantially the same width as measured in a direction parallel to saidfirst and second fold lines.
 4. The carton blank as defined in claim 2wherein said third reinforcing panel portions and said locking panel ofare substantially the same with as measured in a direction parallel tosaid first and second fold lines.